Syllabus [Aug. 14, 2011, 9:27 p.m.]

DRAFT-UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This is a six week course on student engagement in the classroom. Participants are expected to examine their own ideas about engagement, as well as to freely share with other partipants about their experiences with engagement and the context of where, who, and how they instruct.

Orientation-Introductions-

Setting up of group learning agreements. How much, and in what ways will we engage with each other as we go through this course? What are our protocols for engagement?
Sharing of educational background and experiences. Let the group know a little bit about you.

Week One-

Pre-survey and online discussion of ideas about student engagement. What do we presently believe constitutes "engagement?" How do we know if students are, in fact, engaged? Can we identify it? Measure it? Define it? What are the elements that make up the concept of engagement and do they all need to be present for something to be called "engagement?"
What do the experts say? A series of readings to further our ideas about engagement.
Readings and discussion on the relationship factor in student engagement. Do students need a relationship with the teacher and/or other students in order to be "engaged?"

Week Two-

Discussion of educational systems, pedagogies, and context and how these differences may influence ideas about how engagement takes place.
Webinar to discuss and further examine ideas about engagement.
Reading articles with differing ideas about engagement and social media conducted debate about ideas in articles.

Week Three

Observation and discussion of classroom videos to examine ideas about engagement.
Learning about the concept of engagement within a "Direct Instruction" Framework.
Practicing engagement strategies in our own classrooms and sharing our experiences with one another.

Week Four

Motivation and engagement. Videos and discussion.
New survey on changing ideas and thinking about student engagement
Watching more videos on methods of student engagement
Creativity and engagement. Videos and discussion.

Week Five

Webinar to further discuss ideas surrounding engagement.
Problem solving and community service as engagement. Reading and videos plus discussion.
Discussing as a group ways to put our learning about engagement to work in our teaching environments.
Trying out co-designed engagement strategies in our teaching environments and bringing back our experiences to share and dissect.
Comparing and contrasting the concept of engagement within a "Direct Instruction" framework.

Week Six